Steve Gibson's interview with BBC Tees prompted a flurry of bets on Ryan Giggs to become the next Boro boss.

Steve Agnew was as short as 1/5 favourite at the end of last week to get the gig on a permanent basis but has now drifted to 7/1, with the former Manchester United winger now the pick of the bookmakers.

That's after Oddschecker revealed that over the last 48 hours 74% of the bets on the market for next Boro boss have been placed on the Welshman, compared to 9% in the seven days previous.

Those bets include a handful of three-figure punts on Giggs over the last 12 hours.

Gibson didn't confirm one way or the other whether he plans to look elsewhere in the summer but his interview has clearly sparked punters into believing that it's worth looking beyond the man currently in the dugout.

Indeed, both Ryan Giggs and Nigel Pearson are now a shorter price than Agnew, with Pearson's odds shortening after the club's ex-skipper threw his hat in the ring on Goals on Sunday.

A spokesman for Oddschecker told the Gazette: "Before the weekend all the bets had been for Agnew - in both the next manager and manager on first game of next season markets - but he now accounts for just under 8%."

Asked whether he has any thoughts on the next permanent Boro manager, chairman Steve Gibson told BBC Tees: "Yes, but I'll keep them to myself. When we're ready to announce that, I will.

"We have some great people at Middlesbrough Football Club."

He said he never considered an external appointment when Aitor Karanka left the club and praised Steve Agnew, saying: "I think the world of Steve Agnew, he's worked here a long time, gives it his best, he's an intelligent guy and knows the game inside out.

"He was the players' choice as well as my choice.

"The circumstances prevailed against him. Let's not get into too much detail. Leave me to deal with it."